Velasco class cruiser

The "Velasco" class of unprotected cruisers was a series of eight cruisers built during the 1880s for service with the Spanish Navy. They were named for famous Spaniards of the past.

Description

The "Velasco" class consisted of two slightly different subclasses. The first two ships, "Velasco" and "Gravina", built at Blackwall in the United Kingdom, had fewer but heavier guns and were slightly faster than the next six, which were built at various yards in Spain. The class took a long time to complete, with the two British-build ships being laid down in 1881 and the last Spanish built one not being completed until 1889. The ships had one rather tall funnel, an iron hull, and barque rigging. They were unarmored.

History

The "Velasco"-class cruisers generally were assigned to colonial service. They were an ill-fated class, with two lost at sea and three more sunk during the Spanish-American War. The three survivors lasted into the early 20th century, with the last one stricken in 1927.

Ships in class

"Velasco"

Completed in 1881, "Velasco" was in the Philippines at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.

"Gravina"

Completed in 1881, "Gravina" was sent to the Philippines, where she sank in a typhoon in 1884.

"Infanta Isabel"

Completed in 1889 or 1889, "Infanta Isabel" was the longest lived of the class, undergoing a reconstruction in 1911 and not being stricken until 1927.

"Isabel II"

Completed in 1889 or 1889, "Isabel II" saw action during the Spanish-American War off San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was stricken in 1907.

"Cristobal Colon"

Completed in 1889 or 1889, "Cristobal Colon" was lost off Cuba in October 1895.

"Don Juan de Austria"

Completed in 1888 or 1889, "Don Juan de Austria" was in the Philippines at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.

"Don Antonio de Ulloa"

Completed in 1888 or 1889, "Don Antonio de Ulloa" was in the Philippines at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.

"Conde del Venadito"

Completed in 1888 or 1889, "Conde del Venadito" was stricken aound 1905

References

*Chesneau, Roger, and Eugene M. Kolesnik, Eds. "Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905." New York, New York: Mayflower Books Inc., 1979. ISBN 0831703024.
*Gray, Randal, Ed. "Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Instute Press, 1985. ISBN 0870219073.
*Nofi, Albert A. "The Spanish-American War, 1898". Conshohocken, Pennsylvania:Combined Books, Inc., 1996. ISBN 0938289578.

External links

* [http://www.spanamwar.com The Spanish-American War Centennial Web Site]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/spain/spsh-ag/c-venad.htm Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center: Online Library of Selected
]